Method of producing a deflector device for fuel-refilling systems and construction kit with prefabricated components for producing a deflector device prototype

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9718348-B2
Application number	US-201214357683-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 24, 2012
Priority date	Nov 11, 2011
Publication date	Aug 1, 2017
Grant date	Aug 1, 2017

Abstract

A method of producing a deflector device for a fuel tank system comprising producing a deflector device prototype from prefabricated components of a construction kit, performing fuel-refilling tests using the deflector device prototype, optionally modifying the deflector device prototype, creating a construction model for the deflector device prototype, producing a deflector device according to the construction model, optionally performing fuel-refilling tests with the deflector device produced according to the construction model and optionally producing the deflector device according to the construction model. The disclosure further provides a construction kit with prefabricated components for producing the prototype of the deflector device for the fuel tank system.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of producing a deflector device for a fuel tank system comprising the following steps:
producing a deflector device prototype from prefabricated deflector device components of a construction kit,
performing fuel-refilling tests using the deflector device prototype,
determining a position of each of the prefabricated components of the construction kit used to produce the deflector device prototype relative to one another using a scale having a plurality of marking lines arranged circumferentially on one of the prefabricated components,
creating a construction model for the deflector device prototype,
producing at least one deflector device according to the construction model,
wherein the prefabricated components of the construction kit comprise at least two prefabricated deflector base bodies, at least two prefabricated inserts for the deflector base bodies designed to receive a filler neck and at least two prefabricated bends, wherein the at least two prefabricated bends have at least one of different radii and different lengths.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the prefabricated components of the construction kit are made of at least one of plastic, metal, casting resin and glass.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the prefabricated components of the construction kit are produced by at least one of stereolithography, injection moulding, milling, turning, vacuum blowing and laser sintering.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the prefabricated components of the construction kit each have a construction model and the construction models for the prefabricated components of the construction kit are stored on a computer facility, wherein the construction model of the deflector device prototype is created using the construction models of the prefabricated components of the construction kit used to produce the deflector device prototype.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the prefabricated components of the construction kit are provided with grid lines on at least part of their surface.

6. The method according to claim 5 , further comprising modifying the prefabricated components of the construction kit, and wherein the modifications to the prefabricated components of the construction kit are transferrable to the construction model for the deflector device prototype by using the grid lines.

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein determining the position of each of the prefabricated components of the construction kit used to produce the deflector device prototype relative to one another further comprises using a marking applied to another of the prefabricated components connected thereto.

8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the prefabricated components of the construction kit used to produce the prototype are detachably connected to one another.

9. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising modifying the deflector device prototype after performing fuel-refilling tests using the deflector device prototype and before creating a model for the deflector device prototype.

10. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising performing fuel-refilling tests with the at least one deflector device produced according to the construction model after producing the at least one deflector device according to the construction model.

11. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising producing a plurality of deflector devices according to the construction model.

Assignees

• Kautex Textron Gmbh & Co Kg

Inventors

• Aubreville Simon

Classifications

• B60Y2304/09

  Testing or calibrating during manufacturing · CPC title

• B23P11/00

  Connecting or disconnecting metal parts or objects by metal-working techniques not otherwise provided for  (connecting sheet metal or metal tubes, rods or profiles B21D39/00; riveting B21J; soldering, unsoldering, welding B23K; hand tools for connecting wire or strip B25B25/00; connecting metal parts by adhesives F16B11/00) · CPC title

• B62D65/005

  Inspection and final control devices · CPC title

• B33Y50/00

  Data acquisition or data processing for additive manufacturing · CPC title

• B33Y80/00

  Products made by additive manufacturing · CPC title